Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-09-16

Ffoiu ~ tVS t-S@AS 90 ~eit9' 80!
Upon the third of September, 1883,
the Treaty of Peace which ended the
long war of the American Revolu
tion was sigued at Paris; and the
thirteen original States, whose fortl-
tude, self. denial, nnd oyerYhelming
love of freedom, had been the admir-,
alton of the civilized world, took
breath and looked about them.
1t did not take much time to dis
cover that while they had achieved
their purpose, had driven the British
soldiers from their shores, it had
been at frightful cost Of blood and
treasure, as we'll as an enormous
debt-forty millions in ALTO France,
Holland, Spain, and their own gal
liant countrymen.
and not only we're they destitute
of money to discharge this burden,
but they had neither manufactures,
trade, credit, nor, what was most Sc
rious of all, any government.
TO be sure they had thirteen inde-
pendent governments, each of which
as quick as the British clutch was re-
laxed, appeared determined to do the
best it could for Itself, regardless OF
it's neighbors.
This difficulty, serious, peremptory,
grew out of the circumstances il
which the colonies were originally
placed. sach organized its own liz
tie government as it pleased; then
formed O union with its nearest
neighbor if it could do so to its ad-
vantage. Plymouth and Massachu-
setts joined hands as early as 1897,
that they might better defend them,
selves against their enthusiastically,
"Wild beasts and Indians" Five
years later Connecticut and New
Haven came into the league then
styled THE United Colonies of New
England; :" this being the first ap
pearance in history Of the name now
so familiar.
A century gfterward, when to
"wild beasts and indiana . yere
added the French, wider alliance
was formed. and called "The North
American Confederacy."
1t must he repembered that these
leagues, as we'll as all following ones
up to the time of the formation o!
the present Constitution of the United
States, were for mutual assistance
simply; that is. il 2oston was at
tackled by Indians, New York niis1
hasten to her relief, although neither
Boston, nor indeed the entire league
mad authority to determine the extent,
that being left for New York herself
to settle in her local Legislature, as
sembly, or whatever she styled hel
great council.
In spite Of Wild beasts, Indians
French ard the oppressive e4actions
OF Mother England, the Colonie;
throve nightly, and finally with the
assistance of British army drove
the French out Of Carada. Grear
Britain had made an excellent bar
gain with them, and heartily rejoicet
was she to be rid cf the French, bu
she objected to paying the piper ant
declared that not only would she ta1
her colonies to help, but sne woQli
tax them in the Parliament of En-
gland where they had never been al
lowed any representation.
OF course this could not be en-
dured and in October, 4T65, the frs
American Congress assembled in New
York. with twenty-eight delegate
from nine colonies.
This Congress fred the signal gul
which aroused the continent, and ii
spite of it's short comings was th
parent OF all subsequent eonfedera
tions, and was the first where me
thought of themselves, not as New
Workers or New Englanders, but a
Americans.
Great Britain gave up the obnoz
ious tax, but poor pig-headed oil
King George never gave up his dc
termination to reduce the American
to obedience, and declared le Go4l
shut up the Port of Boston the Grs
day of June, l774, and if the peopl
did not submit, they might-starve
In the midst of the tempest of rag
which convnlsed the country at thi
ANNOUNCEMENT, the first Continental
Congress met at Carpentar!s Hal
Philadelphia. The venerable builC
ing, still standing on Chestnut stree
below Fourth, shook with the tumul
uous applause which followed tb
stirring words of Patrick Henry. q